I typed in that code instead of cut/pasting. I was using ExecNonQuery.
Anyway, embarrassing error - I was changing the database on one handle then using another to run my queries. That and I was disobeying basic debugging rules, like showing the selected database ... bleh, it's Saturday...
Wood / trees / etc.
Thanks for your input, helped me get there.
BTW it works for me without the ` around the db name.
Cheers.